Law Enforcement
Against Prohibition (LEAP), a nonprofit group of police, judges, prosecutors, and
other criminal justice professionals advocating for marijuana reform, endorses Amendment
2 as a means of protecting the rights and safety of sick, elderly, and disabled
patients. Amendment 2 will allow patients with debilitating conditions, as outlined by the bill,
to purchase marijuana from licensed, regulated dispensaries.

“Florida is known as a comfortable place for retirees,
many of whom battle with painful and debilitating conditions,” said Special
Agent Ray Strack (Ret.), a veteran U.S. Customs agent and speaker for LEAP. “Passing
Amendment 2 will be fantastic for people, no different from our parents and
grandparents, who are suffering and will benefit from safe and regulated access
to medical marijuana.”

Amendment 2 is endorsed by The Miami Herald and other
major newspapers, ACLU of Florida, Florida NAACP, Teamsters 2011, Palm Beach
County Democratic Black Caucus, United Teachers of Dade, and U.S. Reps. Corrine
Brown, Joe Garcia, Alcee Hastings, and other state legislators.

Twenty-five states and D.C. have legalized
some form of medical marijuana access. Florida is one of four states voting to
reform medical marijuana laws this election.

LEAP is
committed to ending decades of failed marijuana policies that have damaged the
lives of countless Americans and their families, slowed the justice system at
every level, and eroded trust between communities and police.

LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGAINST PROHIBITION (LEAP) ENDORSES QUESTION 2, THE INITIATIVE TO
REGULATE MARIJUANA LIKE ALCOHOL IN NEVADA

Criminal
Justice Experts Say Question 2 Will Promote Public Safety

Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP), a nonprofit group
of police, judges, prosecutors, and other criminal justice professionals, today
announced its endorsement of Nevada’s ballot Question
2 to regulate marijuana
as a means of refocusing the justice system on more pressing crimes and improving
the relationship between communities and police.

The proposed initiative would allow adults 21 and older to
possess up to one ounce of marijuana and up to one eighth of an ounce of
marijuana extract. Question 2 would also establish the framework for a responsibly
regulated system of licensed marijuana retail stores and cultivation, manufacturing,
and testing facilities. The initiative would place a 15% excise tax on wholesale
marijuana sales.

“Responsibly regulating marijuana will help to drive out the
risky and untaxed illegal marijuana market – thus reducing the power of gangs
and improving public safety for Nevada’s residents and law enforcement officers,”
said Maj. Neill Franklin
(Ret.), LEAP’s executive director. “Police will then be able to refocus
valuable resources to help bring justice to victims of serious crimes.”

If passed, Question 2 will ensure protection for patients enrolled in Nevada’s
medical marijuana program. Consuming marijuana in public and driving while
impaired on marijuana will remain illegal. Taxes and fees will first be used to
pay for state and local implementation and enforcement, and all additional
money will support K-12 education. According to a Suffolk University poll, 57% of Nevadans support the measure.

California,
Maine, Massachusetts, and Arizona are also voting to legalize marijuana for
adult use through the ballot initiative process this November. Marijuana is
legal for adult use in Colorado, Washington, Alaska, Oregon, and the District
of Columbia. Twenty-five states and D.C. have legalized some form of medical
marijuana access.

LEAP is committed to ending decades of failed marijuana
policies that have damaged the lives of countless Americans and their families,
slowed the justice system at every level, and eroded trust between communities
and police.

Criminal Justice Experts Support Campaign to Legalize Marijuana to Promote Public Safety

The Massachusetts Secretary of State has announced that an opportunity to legalize marijuana, Question 4, will be on the November ballot. Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP), a nonprofit group of police, judges, prosecutors, and other criminal justice professionals advocating for marijuana legalization, endorses the measure as a means of refocusing the justice system on more serious matters and improving the relationship between communities and police. Question 4 will allow adults 21 and older to possess up to one ounce of marijuana and grow up to six plants in a secure area of the home.

“Just because fewer people are arrested for marijuana in Massachusetts now doesn’t mean the illegal market disappeared,” saidOfficer Patrick Heintz (Ret.), a retired corrections officer, substance-abuse counselor, and LEAP speaker. “Underground marijuana dealers are still out there – profiting from a product we relegated to their control. Regulation ensures profits are directed to licensed business owners who pay taxes instead of potentially dangerous criminals. I’m voting Yes on Question 4.”

Question 4 is endorsed by Parents for Addiction Treatment and Healing, ACLU of Massachusetts, Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Moms for Regulation and Taxation, and Union of Minority Neighborhoods, and assorted state legislators, doctors, nurses, academics, and faith leaders.

Marijuana is legal for adult use in Colorado, Washington, Alaska, Oregon, and the District of Columbia. Twenty-five states and D.C. have legalized some form of medical marijuana access. Measures to legalize marijuana for adult use are also on the November ballot in Maine, Arizona, California, and Nevada.

LEAP is committed to ending decades of failed marijuana policies that have damaged the lives of countless Americans and their families, slowed the justice system at every level, and eroded trust between communities and police.

Criminal Justice Experts Support Campaign to Legalize Marijuana to Promote Public Safety

The Arizona Secretary of State has announced that an opportunity to legalize marijuana, Proposition 205, will be on the November ballot. Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP), a nonprofit group of police, judges, prosecutors, and other criminal justice professionals advocating for marijuana legalization, endorses the measure as a means of refocusing the justice system on more serious matters and improving the relationship between communities and police. Prop. 205 will allow adults 21 and older to possess up to one ounce of marijuana, grow up to six plants in a secure area of the home, and allocate an estimated $55 million from marijuana sales taxes and licensing fees for K-12 education and full-day kindergarten programs.

“Marijuana arrests are damaging the lives of good people all over Arizona,” said Lt. Tony Ryan (Ret.), a LEAP speaker, 36-year veteran of the Denver Police Department, and Arizona resident. “Marijuana prohibition makes people distrust police for enforcing laws that take away education, job, and housing opportunities, as well as the rights of good parents. Prohibition is harmful and counterproductive. I'm voting Yes on Prop. 205.”

Prop. 205 is also endorsed by over a dozen conservative, liberal, and libertarian officials and organizations, including the Arizona Libertarian Party, the Arizona Democratic Party, The La Paz County Republican Committee.

Marijuana is legal for adult use in Colorado, Washington, Alaska, Oregon, and the District of Columbia. Twenty-five states and D.C. have legalized some form of medical marijuana access. Ballot measures to legalize marijuana for adult use are on the November ballot in Maine, Massachusetts, California, and Nevada.

LEAP is committed to ending decades of failed marijuana policies that have damaged the lives of countless Americans and their families, slowed the justice system at every level, and eroded trust between communities and police.

Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap has announced that Question 1 on Maine’s November ballot will be an initiative to legalize marijuana. Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP), a nonprofit organization of police, judges, prosecutors, and other criminal justice professionals advocating for marijuana legalization, endorses the measure as a means of refocusing the justice system on more serious matters and improving the relationship between communities and police. As summarized by the Maine Secretary of State, Question 1 will "allow the possession and use of marijuana under state law by persons who are at least 21 years of age, and allow the cultivation, manufacture, distribution, testing, and sale of marijuana and marijuana products subject to state regulation, taxation and local ordinance."

“Legalizing, taxing, and regulating marijuana is already proving successful in other states,” said Maj. Neill Franklin (Ret.), LEAP’s executive director. “We have a duty to ensure law enforcement prioritizes public safety above the responsible behavior of otherwise law-abiding adults.”

Question 1 would allocate marijuana taxes to Maine’s General Fund to bolster local budgets.

Marijuana is legal for adult use in Colorado, Washington, Alaska, Oregon, and the District of Columbia. Twenty-five states and D.C. have legalized some form of medical marijuana access.

LEAP is committed to ending decades of failed marijuana policies that have damaged the lives of countless Americans and their families, slowed the justice system at every level, and eroded trust between communities and police.

Criminal Justice Experts Across California and the U.S. Endorse AUMA to Promote Public Safety

On July 1st, California Secretary of State Alex Padilla announced that the Adult Use of Marijuana Act (AUMA), an initiative to legalize marijuana in the state, is now on the November ballot. AUMA, designated as Proposition 64, would allow adults 21 and older in California to grow up to six plants in a secured area at home and possess, gift, and transport up to one ounce of marijuana and up to eight grams of extract. Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP), a group of police, judges, prosecutors, and other criminal justice professionals advocating for marijuana legalization, endorses the measure as it stands to improve the relationship between communities and police and help keep the justice system focused on more serious matters.

“This initiative is the best chance California has to end a failed war on marijuana,” said Redondo Beach Police Department’s Lt. Commander Diane Goldstein (Ret.), executive board member for LEAP. “It’s our best hope to reduce the power of cartels operating in our state, to generate much-needed resources for law enforcement, and create a new system of regulation and control that will greatly improve public health and safety for all Californians.”

Prop. 64 increases privacy protections for medical marijuana patients who have the required medical marijuana identification cards. It also allows courts to re-sentence many prisoners serving time for marijuana offenses and re-designate or dismiss many marijuana offenses from the criminal records of those who have already served out their sentences. Tax revenue from marijuana sales would be allocated for bolstering communities that have been disparately impacted by the War on Drugs, most notably communities of color. Tax revenues would be allocated to youth drug treatment and prevention programs and to law enforcement agencies for improving detection of impaired drivers.

Prop. 64 has bipartisan support from state government officials and strong support from community members and organizations from various backgrounds, including LAPD Deputy Chief Stephen Downing (Ret.), Judge James P. Gray (Ret.), the California NAACP, Marijuana Policy Project of California, Drug Policy Alliance, ACLU of California, California Democratic Party, California Medical Association, Parents for Addiction Treatment and Healing, and medical professionals including Donald Abrams, M.D., Chief of Hematology and Oncology at San Francisco General Hospital.

Marijuana is legal for adult use in Colorado, Washington, Alaska, Oregon, and the District of Columbia. Twenty-five states and D.C. have legalized some form of medical marijuana access.

LEAP is committed to ending decades of failed marijuana policies that have damaged the lives of countless Americans and their families, slowed the justice system at every level, and eroded trust between communities and police.